Trace-fastener.



No. 704,74l. Patented July 15, 1902 S; E. FUBEMAN.

TRACE FASTENER. (Apph t n filedN 22 1901) (No Model.)

:11: mums PETERS 00.. Mom-gm" wasumumn o. a

Ton whontzlt may concern;

UNITED STATE P TENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL E. FQREMAN, or PADUOAEKENT oKY.

TRACE-FASTENER.

srncrrrcarron forming m of- Letters Patent No. 704,741, dated July 15,1902.

Application filed ll'ovemher2 2, 1901. Serial No. 88,291. (No model.) I

' Be itknown that I, SailIUELE. FQ1%Eil IAN, a. citizen of theUnited States,;residing at Pa-' ducah, in the county of McOrackeniand State of Kentucky, have invented anew and usefulTrace-Fastener, of which the' following'is. a specification.

' This invention relates to improvements in trace-fasteners, and particularly to that class of fastening devices carried by-the trace and adapted for locking engagement with the singletree.

The principal object of theinvention is to provide a simple and-effective holding device which maybe made and sold as an article of manufacture and applied, to any trace. ordinarily in use.

With this and other objects in view the invention consistsin the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described,

shown in. the accompanying drawings, and

particularly pointed out' in'the appended claims. i W

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a singletree and trace, illustrating the construction and arrangement of a trace-fastener made in accordance with my invent-ion. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating the employment of the device in securing a doubled tracein position.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the various views.

1 designates the end of a singletree of ordinary construction. At points near the end of the singletree the latter is usuallyprovided with a transverse openingzfor the passage of a leather thong, serving to hold the traee'ih' In carrying out my invention the opi place. posite portions of the singletree are cou n ter sunk at this opening to form seating-recesses 3 for a pair of balls 5. w

The trace 6 is provided with one or more openings 7, through which the end of the singletree may be'passed, and in some cases where the horse is hooked up shortthe trace may be. doubled, as shown in Fig; On the trace is placed a slide 8, having'wings 9 bent over the opposite edges of the trace and adapted to hold said slide in position. The slide is formed of sheet metal and is stamped out hat,- the wings being bent over the trace and being made of. ajlength suflicient to permit of ready application to a trace of any width or thickness.

formed an eye 10 for the reception of the central-portion of a spring-wire bail 11, to the opposite ends of which are secured the balls 5.

In using the fastener the traceis first placed in position on the singletre'epand the balls 5 are then engaged in the seats 3, the spring 11 be'ing'made of suliicient strength to hold the balls in position in-the seats-against any ordinary strain.

on the trace, and as the'latter moves from side to side the balls will turn in their seat- The slide 8 is mounted loosely At the rear end of the slide is lug-recesses and move the slide to and fro on is doubled, as in Fig.3, the slide being moved.

alongf'the trace forasufificient distance to permito'f the engagement of two of the traceeyes Twiththejsingletree and then being shifted to the proper position to permit of the engagement of the balls 5 in the seating-recesses.

The device may be employed in connection with that class of singletrees in which the usual trace eye or catch isemployed'or may be used with the solid wooden bar, as shown in the drawings. a

Although the construction herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings is the preferred form of the device, it is "obvious that changes in the form, size, proportions, and minor details may be'made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing-any of the advantages of the invention.

Havingthusdescribed the invention, what is claimed is-- 1. A trace-fastenercomprisingaslide adapted to the 'trace, a, vertically disposed eye formed at the rearend of said slide, a springwire bail pivotally mounted in said eye, and balls arranged at the ends ofisaid :wire bail and adapted for engagement'wi'th seating-recesses in the singletreef 2. A trace -'fas',tener' cemprisingfa slide 8 adapted to be mounted on the trace and havof said trace, a vertically-disposed eye 10 In testimony that I claim the foregoing as formed at the rear of said slide, a spring-wire my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in baillloentrally mountedinsaid eye,andba 1ls l the presence of two witnesses. arranged at the ends of said wire bail and 5 adapted for engagement with seating- 16- Witnesses:

cesses formed in the opposite sides of the W. E. FERGERSON, singletree, substantially as specified. E. T. STEPHENSON.

SAMUEL E. FOREMAN. 

